Meet the Team
What is AOC Selections?
AOC Selections is a modern full-service wine retailer that believes in community and engagement with our clientele. We have a staff of sommeliers working to bring you the best wines in the world. Our collection features a rotation of over 3,500 selections that range from collectible benchmarks and icon wines to well-vetted everyday drinkers from around the world. Cellar consultation is available. You'll discover a full service wine campus in each of our locations. You can learn about wine through The Texas Wine School. If you need storage, and are looking for an active community of collectors who are engaged with tastings and events, we have temperature-controlled, generator-protected wine storage at Art of Cellaring next door.
MEET THE WINE TEAM
Brandon Kerne, MS
Brandon Kerne is the Director of Operations for the AOC Collective. He passed the Master Sommelier exam in 2021, becoming the 270th individual since 1973 to pass this rigorous examination. For five years beginning in 2015, Brandon was the lead sommelier at Pappas Bros Steakhouse in downtown Houston. The program received numerous accolades while he was a member of the team, including a James Beard nomination for Outstanding Wine Program and the Wine Spectator Grand Award. At Pappas, he worked with over 4,500 selections spanning vintages dating back over a century from regions all around the world. Brandon also coordinated the wine education programs at each of the Pappas Bros Steakhouse locations in Texas, and is passionate about wine education. Prior to living in Houston, he was a manager and wine director at both Bar Italia and Elaia & Olio in Saint Louis, Missouri, which placed in Wine Enthusiast's "America's 100 Best Wine Restaurants" and Bon Appetit's "50 Best New Restaurants in America".
Liz Palmer
Liz Palmer is the proprietor of the AOC Collective and the founder of AOC Selections and Art of Cellaring. She is a CPA and attorney, a perennial volunteer who jumped headfirst into running three small businesses (she is also the Executive Director of The Texas Wine School). She is an avid learner who recently discovered she's a great talent scout! She is NOT a natural salesman, and happily buries herself in spreadsheets most of the day, but if you can pull her out of the daily grind, she is happy to geek out on all things wine. She holds the WSET Diploma, Bourgogne Ambassador, California Wine Appellation Specialist, Certified Rioja Educator, Certified Specialist of Wine, French Wine Scholar, Italian Wine Scholar, Spanish Wine Scholar, Italian Wine Professional Certifications.
MEET THE WINE TEAM
Joshua Thomas
Upon returning to San Antonio, Joshua launched Maverick Texas Brasserie in the winter of 2018, where his passion for wine propelled the restaurant into the national spotlight. Its expertly curated wine program earned a spot on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wine Destinations in the U.S. for 2019 and Texas Monthly’s recognition in 2020 as one of the state’s premier wine programs.
In the wake of the pandemic, Joshua shifted his focus from the restaurant industry to his family and the broader wine community. As Consignment Director for the South Central U.S. at WineBid, Joshua’s travels across Texas revealed a critical need for a specialized wine storage community in San Antonio. This discovery inspired a partnership with AOC Houston to establish Art of Cellaring, a wine-focused retail and storage space that serves as a hub for enthusiasts and collectors alike. With AOC Selections, the retail arm of the operation, Joshua curates a dynamic range of wines, offering everything from rare finds to everyday bottles that bring joy to the table.
With roots in culinary arts and a strong foundation in wine education, Joshua’s achievements include an International Sommelier Guild Diploma and certification as a wine educator from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). He also holds the Advanced certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. In 2013, Wine & Spirits Magazine named him one of the “Best New Sommeliers” in the U.S., highlighting his expertise and contributions to the industry.
Joshua remains dedicated to enriching San Antonio’s wine culture, using AOC Selections as a platform to introduce “the good juice” to a growing community of wine lovers.
Hannah Stanton
Hannah began her hospitality journey as a server before earning her concierge stripes at South Congress Hotel in Austin, where she discovered a passion for delivering white-glove service and creating memorable guest experiences.
In 2020, she relocated to San Antonio and went on to manage the tasting room at Seventh Son Vineyards in Wimberley. There, she deepened her connection to wine, sparking a lasting passion for both the craft and the community it fosters. She earned her WSET Level 2 certification in 2022 and has since passed her WSET Level 3 certification.
Today, Hannah is a key member of the team at Art of Cellaring San Antonio, where she wears many hats and continues to grow alongside a dynamic and engaged wine community.
Chenin
Chenin is the lovable, four-legged ambassador of AOC Selections. Most days, you’ll find her lounging on the floor, greeting every visitor with a wagging tail and a warm heart. While she doesn’t partake in wine herself, Chenin has an undeniable fondness for wine lovers. With her friendly demeanor and affectionate nature, she’s always ready to “help” you choose the perfect bottle for your dinner table.
Kelly Rau
Kelly Rau is the Director of Operations for AOC Wine Group. She is heavily involved in all three companies and loves to do everything from working in the cellar to helping customers choose their new favorite bottle of wine. Kelly came to the wine industry after working in the Oil & Gas Industry for over 10 years. She was a dedicated consumer for many years before she finally determined that wine was her true passion. She has obtained her WSET Level III Certification and is also a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Her studies continue, as she is now working toward the Advanced Sommelier Certification and WSET Level IV Diploma. She is still an avid wine collector and particularly adores all things Champagne and the wines of R. López de Heredia.
Eric Molina
Eric Molina is the Cellar Master for AOC Wine Group. He came to us from restaurants. After many years of experience at Wine Spectator Grand Award-Winning Pappas Bros Steakhouse in Houston, Texas, Eric was thoroughly in love with wine. Eric is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, and he is also a Spanish Wine Scholar.
Macy Vance
Macy Vance can hit a 3-iron. Not even God can hit a 3-iron.
Elva Akin
AOC Selections in San Antonio
A new wine community to help you learn about and explore the world's most complex beverage
Somm Selections
A team of Texas's best sommeliers help select the rotating library of more than 3,000 reference point bottles for your enjoyment
Curated Cellars
With our team's experience, we have a vast network of relationships with wineries and resources across the globe to help access the world's most elusive wines
Wine Tastings
Meet the people and personalities behind some of the world's most elusive wines at our community tastings and events.
Recent offers from AOC Selections
Our sommelier team keeps your finger on the pulse of the best wines that arrive to Texas
Chateau Musar's Vintage Library Releases
The 8th Wonder of the Wine World from Lebanon's Bekaa Valley
Chateau Musar's Vintage Library Releases
The 8th Wonder of the Wine World from Lebanon's Bekaa Valley
Ex-Chateau Releases from
Chateau Pontet-Canet
Ex-Chateau Releases from
Chateau Pontet-Canet
An Alsatian Icon Returns to Texas
Albert Mann's Luscious 2020 Releases
An Alsatian Icon Returns to Texas
Albert Mann's Luscious 2020 Releases
Smoky, Savory, Umami Bombs
Lionel Faury's Jaw-Dropping Cote-Rotie's
Smoky, Savory, Umami Bombs
Lionel Faury's Jaw-Dropping Cote-Rotie's
How can AOC Selections help me now?
Each week, we taste over a hundred wines to make selections for our email offers. If you're looking to casually expore new styles or to begin building a collection, this is where you begin. Subscribe to our mailing list below.
